Bernstein Conducts Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4, "Italian" (1/4)

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy:

Symphony No. 4 in A Minor, Opus 90. "Italian" (1/4)
I. Allegro Vivace

Conducted by: Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
(1953 New York Recording)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mendelssohn
• Felix
• 4th
• Symphony
• Italian
• Leonard
• Bernstein
• New
• York
• Philharmonic
• Sinfoniette

[JTmusicguy]

Yeah he totally slowed things down because he liked to hear every note. But this is fast. As it should be; I can't really imagine slow tarantelle. :P

[Sinfoniette]

Listen to Masur's... it is probably the slowest I would accept. Masur doesn't give the excitement given in the Bernstein, nor the tarantelle feel. But he makes it sound a bit more pastoral, a bit calmer, like a farmer. That is what I used to think the Italian as, but now I think the fast renditions are true to the score and obviously, more wilder.

[JTmusicguy]

Yeah I like the tarantella when it's fast! I'm Italian and I'm used to the types of music from Italy...so it's kind of hard to imagine many Neapolitan or Sicilian folk songs, like the tarantella, that are slowed quite a bit! Unless they happen to be the depressing songs...like the second mvmt!

But then again, I like Masur's version! Even though it's slightly slower it has that Southern Italian feel to it. haha.

[Sinfoniette]

There are more famous, and I think better renditions of this Italian though. I think Karajan, Klemperer, and my favorite, Toscanini, is great. Have you heard them or others?

[plouw09]

This is fast for Bernstein.

But very well done.

[Sinfoniette]

Its fast, but is it fast for Bernstien?

[carke66]

I have listened to 23 *yes 23 i have no life * youtubes of this and this is this the BEST

[CrotalusAtrox501]

When I listened this the first time (life in a wonderful theatre, with wonderful people with me) I fell in love with the Italian Symphony...Not 5 stars, but 50. Great version.

[44478129102734]

Thank you for uploading all 4 movements.

[Callistogirl1]

This is from a Barbie movie. Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses. It is a very cool movie and this music fits it perfectly.

[2008Gabyzinha2008]

Great recording , in terms of sound, for 1953!

[katoppie]

I would NOT want to be a wind player in this recording. Those parts are hard without it racing by.

Deadly energy though. There is a reason why Bernstein is the man :)

[gezunder]

@Sinfoniette I had that Toscanini version years ago. Really excellent, sadly now lost.

[al1936ful]

@JTmusicguy There's a tarantella near the end of "The Nutcracker", and in the Baryshnikov version it's played slower than usual.

[tetrisclock]

Karajan always conducts the best renditions.

[MikeDrewYT]

There should be a contrast between this movt and the Saltarello. This movement should be distinct in every piece of every triplet, while the Saltarello should simply move in beat-units with the triplet subdivisions being nearly ornamental. It nearly moves in 1 (with four triplets per beat, or at least two if taken in two), while this movement is clearly in four.